• One of the most captivating views in East Africa
• The ethnic charm of tents housed under traditional makuti thatch
• The benefit of experience from some of Africa’s most seasoned game guides
The Whole Story
The view is Tortilis’s X-factor. The sudden enormity of Kilimanjaro sticking out of the African bush never ceases to amaze. From its elevated position Tortilis camp is perched like an observatory of Africa’s highest peak (and the world’s highest freestanding mountain).
Named after the flat-top umbrella thorn tree (acacia tortilis), Tortilis camp is also distinguished by its local elephant population. There are more than a thousand elephants within Amboseli, including some of the largest ever seen in Africa. Big seems to be a keyword for this camp – big scenery, big elephants, big mountain and big adventure. With a private game concession of 30,000 acres as well as complete access to the surrounding National Park, guests at Tortilis camp are guaranteed a spectacular wildlife experience.
Amboseli is home to elephant families that have been studied by renowned scientist Cynthia Moss for over 25 years. As such they have been protected for generations. Established by Stefano Cheli and his wife Liz, Tortilis reflects the fact that both have worked extensively as safari guides and they have African bush in their DNA (Stefano grew up on a coffee farm in Thika, and Liz was born in Venezuela but grew up in Nairobi). The unique tents sheltered under their thatched makuti roofs are not only authentic and appropriate but also quite aspirational. This is what you want a safari camp to look like.
The Rooms
Guests are housed in tents, and each tent is housed under a hand-crafted roof of makuti (traditional thatch made from palm leaves). The effect is simultaneously romantic and reassuring. Each of the 17 tents consists of a main bedroom with wooden floors, an en-suite bathroom with stone floors and a generous veranda. In addition, each tent can be fitted with an extra bed for children under the age of 16. There is also a family house available at Tortilis with two bedrooms (one twin, one double) and a private dining/seating area.